Matt Leinart raves about Miller Moss’ commitment to USC, development as quarterback

USC quarterback Miller Moss has impressed in his first two starts this season. But a Trojans Heisman Trophy signal caller started following Moss’ journey long before the 2024 season, and long before Moss’ prolific performance in last year’s Holiday Bowl.

That’s Matt Leinart, who joined his FOX Sports colleague Joel Klatt Wednesday to talk about what Leinart’s seen from his alma mater so far this year, leading up to a top-20 clash between No. 11 USC and No. 18 Michigan in Ann Arbor Saturday.

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“I’ve known Miller since he was probably 5,” Leinart said on “The Joel Klatt Show.” “He used to go to my camps. … He’s always had that swag. You see those little 8-year-old kids who wear the wristbands, and they can play, but you’re like, ‘OK, this kid’s got some swag.’ Miller was always that kid. I’ll never forget him. I remember him and his parents, every year they’d come, and he was a diehard Trojan.

“He was never going to leave USC, no matter what happened. Because he is Trojan through and through. That’s why I’m really proud of him for sticking it out. But he’s always had game. He was really good in high school here, he was a fairly big-time recruit, and he’s just kind of waited his turn.”

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Moss was the No. 208 overall prospect, and the No. 22 quarterback, in the 2021 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He emerged as a four-star recruit at Bishop Alemany High School, where, as a junior, he completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,118 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Moss sat behind Kedon Slovis and Jaxson Dart in 2021 and then Caleb Williams in 2022 and 2023. He got the keys to the offense last winter and made the most of the opportunity by throwing six touchdowns in a Holiday Bowl win over Louisville.

Then he opened the 2024 season by taking down then-No. 13 LSU, completing 27-of-36 passes for 378 yards and a touchdown in the 27-20 triumph. The following week, Moss piloted a 48-0 victory over Utah State, turning in an additional 229 passing yards and one more score through the air.

“You turn on the tape, and some of those throws against LSU in that environment, that’s top-notch quarterback play,” Leinart said. “Couple throws even last game against Utah State, I know they beat them pretty handily, but he’s making throws that not just a game manager would make. He’s putting it into windows that are really tight. He’s getting them in the right plays.”

Leinart continued, calling back to a conversation he had with Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley in the offseason: “Lincoln basically said it’s going to be easier for him to call games in a sense. Because they can get in a rhythm, they can get in a flow. Because with Caleb, who was sensational, you just didn’t know what you were going to get sometimes when he’s running around making plays.

“With Miller, you know exactly the checks and where he’s probably going to go with the football. And you’re seeing that so far with the run game, with the pass game.”

Leinart pointed out that arguably USC’s best player, receiver and return man Zachariah Branch, has yet to break out this season. Still, the Trojans offense has been humming, and Leinart believes Moss is a big reason why.

“I think it just goes to show the job Miller’s done in running this offense at an elite level like a lot of the quarterbacks have done for Lincoln Riley,” Leinart said.